Good news for the Grange
After years of concern over the future of Copsewood Grange and Lodge, the Coventry Society is delighted to learn that the owners and developers of New Century Park, Goodman and British Land, have unveiled plans to secure the restoration and refurbishment of these important locally listed buildings.
In advance of submitting a formal planning application for the new plans, Goodman & British Land hosted a public exhibition at the Copsewood Sports Club off Allard Way on 29th February and 1st March 2012. Committee members of the Coventry Society were invited to meet with the developer and architect to review and discuss the latest plans. A Design Forum will be held later this month to consider the plans further prior to the formal planning application being submitted.
The latest plans show that the developer intends to convert Copsewood Lodge into a single private residence, with the Grange being converted into approximately 14 residential units. The Grange would comprise a minimum of 2 bedroom apartments and possibly 4 bedroom apartments depending upon market demand.
The developer's view is that the residential units within the Grange would constitute 'aspirational' housing and for this reason smaller 1 bedroom units would be avoided. The Birmingham branch of national Archial Architects has been appointed to prepare the scheme for restoration and conversion of the Grange and Lodge. The lead architect, Simon Crosby, is himself a Coventrian having been raised and educated in the city. It is pleasing that a Coventry kid will play a key role in the future of two of the city's historic gems. The architects' plans show a complete restoration of both buildings with the aim of reinstating the integrity of the original Victorian design.
Extensions that were added to both the Grange and Lodge in the 20th century have already been demolished. A single storey extension that was added to the Lodge building will be replaced with a two storey structure that matches the detailing of the principal Victorian structure. It is not currently proposed that any additions will be made to the main Grange building.
Internally the building would require significant alteration to accommodate the new residential units but the exterior would be designed to appear as it did in the 19th century when it was occupied by the great industrialist Sir Richard Moon who was made a Baronet by Queen Victoria for his services to the rail industry.
In order to achieve the restoration and conversion of both Copsewood Grange and Lodge, the developer needs to secure revised planning permission that allows for residential use on the land concerned. The existing planning permission granted designates both the Grange and Lodge, as well as the land on the eastern half of New Century Park, for commercial and industrial use. This designation has puzzled the Coventry Society. The land concerned contains a large number of protected trees (subject to Tree Preservation Orders or TPOs) which reflects the parkland nature of much of the land surrounding Copsewood Grange and Lodge. It is difficult to comprehend how large industrial units or storage warehouses could be situated within such a landscape. In the Society's view, the land is far better suited to residential use and we wholly support the change of use sought by the developer. The Coventry Society has for years campaigned fiercely for the preservation and reuse of Copsewood Grange and Lodge. We have gained support from national campaigning groups SAVE Britain's Heritage and the Victorian Society. The former included Copsewood Grange in its last annual publication of its Buildings at Risk catalogue which highlighted the plight of the building at national level.
The Coventry Society has appeared numerous times on local radio station BBC Coventry & Warwickshire as well as in the Coventry Telegraph newspaper to highlight the plight of the building. We also instigated an online petition calling for the preservation and re-use of the buildings which, to date, has just under 300 signatures in support. Alongside our campaigning efforts we have worked constructively with the developers Goodman & British Land and also with the Local Planning Authority and the city's Conservation Officer. It is therefore extremely satisfying to learn that our efforts have not been in vain and that we may just have helped to secure a future for Copsewood Grange and Lodge.
